Ali has always believed in the American Dream and wanted to be an American for as long as he can remember. When he had the chance to come to the United States through a diversity visa in 2020, he dropped everything. He was in a PhD history program in Turkey, but starting over made him feel like he’s “five years old in USA.” While he had some fluency in reading and writing, he had trouble speaking and understanding English conversations, which is critical for an interview.
Taking English classes at The Immigrant Learning Center helped him adjust to his new home and feel more like a capable adult again. So when Ali was able to apply to become a U.S. citizen, he turned to The ILC again to help him through the process.
After three months of weekly citizenship classes at The ILC in which he repeatedly practiced having conversations and answering “who/what/when/where/why” questions, he walked into his interview in March and knew exactly what to expect. He wasn’t nervous. He passed and is now a United States citizen.
“Everybody’s angels. Because, for example, I don’t speak English, but you understand me. You try to understand me. You respect me,” he said about his experience at The ILC.
Ali is just one of 12 hard-working students who’ve passed their citizenship exam in recent weeks. These students get specialized support to help them prepare regardless of their English level and a structure where they can study for one of the most important tests of their lives, and that’s thanks to your support of The ILC’s programs.